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Over-voltage protection circuit

  • US 8,072,724 B2
  • Filed: 03/02/2011
  • Issued: 12/06/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2001
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An over-voltage protection circuit for connection to a charging circuit for maintaining a voltage across a plurality of electrical energy storage devices at or below a predetermined voltage during charging, comprising:

  • a first electrical energy storage device connected from a top voltage rail to a primary junction;

    a second electrical energy storage device connected from the primary junction to a bottom voltage rail;

    an inductor; and

    a first switch and a second switch;

    the over-voltage protection circuit to perform a first procedure in which a charge is drawn from the first electrical energy storage device through the inductor to energize the inductor, the inductor then to cause a current that charges the second storage device, the first procedure beginning when the first switch is closed;

    the over-voltage protection circuit to perform a second procedure in which a charge is drawn from the second electrical energy storage device through the inductor to energize the inductor, the inductor then to cause a current that charges the first storage device, the second procedure beginning when the second switch is closed; and

    a dissipation controller to perform a third procedure in which a charge is discharged from the energized inductor upon detection of an over-voltage condition by a voltage sensor.

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